The Animal Game is one that we played a lot, particularly when other families would come over or the kids had friends visiting. It is simple and fun and doesn't require anything more than imagination and quick-thinking.

Here are the basics:

Equipment

This game is best enjoyed by a group of at least 6 people with a great sense of humor. That is the only equipment needed. Well ... and a strong lack of shame. All players will, at one point or another, make the most humiliating body contortions of their lives.

Seating

Participants sit around the room where they can fully see each other. This should be done with some sort of seating rather than sitting on the floor. Choose one seat to be the first and the one to the right of it to be the last.

Choose your animal

Each participant chooses an animal and then comes up with a gesture for that animal. It needs to be a gesture without sound effects to make sure the fast pace of the game. For a cat, they might pretend to lick their paws and wash their face. For elephant, they could use their arm as a trunk. A bear might put out his paws and show his teeth. The gestures need to be distinct from one another.

Familiarity

Players go around the circle and make their gesture and then everyone else makes their gesture to make sure that everyone knows exactly how to do each animal.

Identity rule

The animal gesture stays with the seat, not the player. When a player loses his turn, he moves to the last seat and everyone else moves up one seat. Players then assume the gesture of the person who last sat in that seat.

Let the fun begin

Play begins with the first player making his gesture and the gesture of any other player. This is where everyone has to really pay attention. The player with the gesture he made then makes their own gesture and the gesture of another player. Play should move quickly with no hesitating to think. You will see some wild and crazy gestures being made when players get confused.

Oops!

When a player fails to make the appropriate gesture, and once the laughter dies down, he is resigned to the last seat and everyone moves up one seat. Again, all players give up their own gesture and assume the gesture assigned to the seat.

Why this game is a great one:

It can be played by kids and adults alike. Perfect for large mixed groups.

It teaches kids to pay close attention. All players must keep their eyes on all other players to see if anyone is making their gesture.

It teaches coordination. Hopefully. If not, it teaches humility.

It can be played impromptu with no advance preparation.

It creates a great deal of laughter and teaches kids to laugh at themselves when they make a mistake.

Players get to use their imagination to come up with clever gestures that depict their favorite animals.